How I improved my memory like a database
Can you improve your memory at any age? The short answer is yes. If you are thinking that getting older makes you lose memory, you’ve been wrongly influenced. Your brain’s memory can be trained and exercised. Don’t fall for the fallacy that you can’t learn new tricks. It’s possible when done actively with memory systems.
I used to be like you, a non-believer, and molded by years of “product advertising” which compelled me to buy things in order to improve myself. I freed myself from this mentally when I journeyed throughout the world engaging my mind with foreign languages. I learned to speak and understand 7 languages. If I have this capability, how can I apply it to learning and memorizing other things? It was not easy but I debunked the “memory loss” myth. In this article, I will explain how I unblocked my memory’s potential using key memory systems.
Just a heads up, this is not a type of training that will immediately make you remember everything you see, hear and read. It is specifically about memorizing intentional things like key concepts, dates, lists, and figures. Memory advancement can be progressive and increase through training just as it can decrease through inactivity, anxiety, and poor health. These things are related so for the most optimal memory gains, clear, unobstructed focus is beneficial.
As a brief background, concepts like neuroplasticity and cognitive behavior are good to understand. Like driving a car, you don’t need to know how the car’s internal mechanics work in order to drive it. But it is very helpful to understand the “how” of the mechanics. I’ve been fascinated with neurocognition, psychology and neurolinguistic programming for many years and I’ve been able to use it to my personal advantage, even help others. Furthermore, memory, on its own, is very powerful and complex.
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to form and reorganize your synaptic connections in response to learning and experience. What fires together, wires together as they say.
Based on evidence of neuroplasticity, it is possible to re-wire your brain whether young or old. It’s not like kids in school don’t forget things. They do forget just as adults. We all have a limited attention span and need mental clarity to optimize our memory. This can be done with key memory systems which utilize both sides of your brain. You would think that using the logical left brain is typical and sufficient but it’s not. It needs to be used in combination with the creative right brain thus maximizing your memory’s capability and retention.
The combined brain hemispheres apply memory principles which include:
- imagination
- association
- exaggeration
- absurdity
- color
- sight
- hearing
- sensuality
Let’s start off with a solid example to start your training. The Number-Shape Memory system will utilize your left brain’s logic for the count of 1 to 10 and your right brain’s visual imagination. The main concept of memorizing new things is association with existing things in your mind. You already know how to count and it’s permanently ingrained in your brain from years of using numbers so let’s associate the numbers 1 through 10 with visual shapes. I’m going to include my visual items I have memorized but you should create your own. The idea is to think of a word that visually represents each number. Nothing complex, just what comes to your mind first. Here are mine:
- magic wand
- gooseneck
- lips
- upside-down chair
- wheelchair
- spiral
- gun
- race-track
- umbrella
- goal post
In reference to databases, these 10 items can be considered your index keys. Your numbers now have a visual element known as the key and you can insert any new item you are learning by imagining them together. Let’s test it with an exercise. Take a stopwatch and set it to 2 minutes to visually combine your key items, with the following 10 new items in your mind.
- airplane
- 1776
- Leonardo Davinci
- dog food
- chemistry
- Rock music
- December 25
- Tony
- Orlando city
- sandwich
Time’s up! After 2 minutes, write down this list of new words from memory on a separate page or sheet of paper. How many words were you able to remember using the number-shape system? If you liked that exercise, there are many more.
What is great about memory training, is that continual practice like this will rewire your synapses engaging your hippocampus as well as your both of your brain’s hemispheres. You can apply this number-shape system starting today to your daily tasks, agenda, events, studies and work. There are more and longer number systems like this to learn about. You can progressively load your brain with more than 10 key index items.
For memory retention, your newly memorized concepts should be repeated within 2 hours of learning, then repeated 24 hours later and another day later. Also practice, the number-shape system in reverse and randomized 1-10. To expand your list of 10 items with another 10 items, use the number-rhyme system.
The number-rhyme system is more auditory for the numbers 1-10 still using the imagination. Think of words that rhyme with each number like “one – bun” and write down the words that come to your mind quickly and clearly. Here’s my list:
- bun
- chew
- tree
- door
- lives
- sticks
- eleven
- gate
- lime
- tent
Spend a couple minutes to memorize your new list and practice for a few days with new concepts you are learning. Use the numbers as your database index and insert new data into your mind’s database. Hopefully, you have understood the key concepts were enlightened with memory improvement and your brain’s powerful neuroplasticity. Futhermore, to expand beyond 20 key elements, look for the Roman Room System, the Major System, and Long Number System. Don’t proceed with these more advanced systems until you got the first 2 basic systems fully memorized. Don’t quit either. Many people apply these techniques without anyone else even noticing. They just think that person is brilliant so go forth and be brilliant! Your mind will thank you because these mental exercises will enhance your neurocognition and make learning more exciting.
Concepts:
- Mental Exercices
- Memory Systems
- Database indexing
- Number-shape system
- Number-rhyme system